LL.B. single honours Law: LL.B. 2018/19

Year of entry

This original and innovative course has been designed in consultation with solicitors and senior managers from a range of local organisations to give you both theoretical and practical experience in law. You will join a challenging, vibrant and friendly environment and your degree will be recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree, enabling you to progress to the vocational stage of lawyer’s training to qualify as either a solicitor or barrister.

We have strong links with our local community through our engagement with Citizens Advice, as well as with the local courts in Kent through our Access to Justice Scheme, giving you the chance to act as a Community Legal Companion for unrepresented parties at court. This is an excellent opportunity for you to gain handson work experience in a legal setting.

By choosing to study Law with us you will become part of a challenging, vibrant and friendly environment. Upon completion, your degree will be recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree by both the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, enabling you to progress to the Vocational Stage of lawyer’s training.

The University has recognised expertise in dispute resolution, particularly alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and specifically mediation. This is enhanced by a number of dispute resolution related modules in our curriculum and through our Mediation Clinic, the first of its kind in a UK university and in which you will have the opportunity to participate.

Our Law students have the unique opportunity in Canterbury to be involved in the administration of justice through volunteering as Community Legal Companions at the local Law courts. Our Community Legal Companions provide important assistance to an increasing number of people who attend court unrepresented. By working with partner organisations and local law firms, our Law students help court service users with a whole range of legal matters including benefit-related issues, family breakdown and housing evictions.

We have an excellent careers and employability service at Canterbury Christ Church, which works closely in conjunction with the Law course to provide comprehensive support and guidance designed specifically for our Law students.

The University is committed to providing you with the skills you need to enhance your employability opportunities. We understand the huge commitment you are making by studying with us and we will do everything we can to develop the skills employers tell us they need, and we are very much an applied Law School.

We are one of only a few universities across the country which offers a dual qualification; an LLB and Membership of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (provided you choose specific options).

Due to our limited annual intake, we can afford to have a close pastoral care regime, allowing us to take care of the individual needs of our students. We offer specialist training in areas such as writing and advocacy skills, and we will help to prepare you for the next steps, for example by doing one-to-one mock interview sessions.

Our staff have been nominated for: 'Law Lecturer of the Year Award' for Inspirational Teaching in Helping Students to Fulfill their Potential' LawCareers.Net 2015; 'Law Teacher of the Year Award' for 'Contribution to the Student Experience of International Students' (2013). Most of our staff are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

Our LLBs are designed very much with the legal services sector in mind, but we also recognise that many of our students enter employment that utilises the skills gained on a law degree in various capacities.

Whatever your chosen career path, our Law degree ensures that you will develop the skills valued and required by future employers and professional bodies. We also pride ourselves on the fact that we have an excellent standard of pastoral care.

“My time at Canterbury Christ Church helped me to build relationships that would sustain me throughout the strenuous ordeal of qualifying to the Bar. Even now I keep in contact with lecturers who have helped during the Bar Professional Training Course year. I think that is the most special element about Christ Church- if you seek help it is always there. The lecturers become friends and students become almost like family. I was never told that something was ever impossible- even when the statistics suggests otherwise.”

We have a very active student law society that organises social events and trips throughout the year. Their mooting team has managed to reach the quarter finals of the national competition, and other students have been successful in mediation and negotiation competitions.

We have a very active student law society that organises social events and trips throughout the year. Their mooting team has managed to reach the quarter finals of the national competition, and other students have been successful in mediation and negotiation competitions.

Law at Christ Church is original and innovative because it not only combines the normal essential curriculum required for a Qualifying Law Degree, but also has a Dispute Resolution pathway built into the LLB, alongside the opportunity to study subjects of an international perspective in your final year. Each year you will have the opportunity to take modules that give you both theoretical and practical experience in law.

Studying Law with us will enable you to develop a critical understanding of the main principles, themes and methods of Law. There are three main aims which are fundamental to the Law courses and which apply to all Law students, irrespective of the degree pathway pursued and/or the final named degree award. These aims are:

You can study French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish as part of, or alongside, your course.

To assist students in acquiring critical minds in the evaluation and appreciation of contemporary socio-legal issues;

To provide elements of practical/active learning as part of the legal education experience.

Your Law lecturers are committed to a responsive and proactive approach to student teaching and learning. This is underpinned by both the practical experience as well as the research and scholarship offered by the staff, some of whom are qualified practitioners, whilst others are experienced academics.

The approach to legal education at Christ Church is both traditional and progressive. This is facilitated through integrating formal directed teaching, using lectures, seminars and tutorials with indirect learning and teaching methods such as discussions, student-led seminars, peer-assisted learning, individual and group role-play and mooting. For example in year one, you will typically engage in an interactive style of learning involving workbooks and computer-aided assessment as part of your fundamental grounding in legal methodology.

This strategy aims to provide a personalised approach accompanied by the comprehensive pastoral care structure for new students which will assist your transition to higher education. This approach helps to create a supportive, collaborative and friendly community environment. Years two and three are characterised by an increasing expectation of independent and more specialist learning. This is supported by a number of optional elective modules offered from year two onwards culminating in more complex Law subject topic areas at year three.

“These kinds of studies are a great opportunity for undergraduate students to gain valuable experience of practical research into socio-legal topics which, due to the increasing popularity of alternative dispute resolution processes in the UK, are considered to be of national impo The University has recognised expertise in dispute resolution, particularly alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and specifically mediation. This is enhanced by a number of dispute resolution related modules in our curriculum and through our Mediation Clinic, the first of its kind in a UK university and in which you will have the opportunity to participate.rtance.”

Ben Waters, former LLB Programme Director

Work experience

We have extensive links with local firms of solicitors, the local courts, Citizen Advice and other organisations through which we can help you to obtain work-based learning in your own time. Such activities provide a valuable opportunity to develop your professional skills and make business contacts which can help greatly when looking for employment following graduation.

Research active staff members have led on research projects with the assistance of undergraduate students in the area of our particular specialism which is alternative dispute resolution. For example studies have been undertaken into local and regional solicitors’ attitudes to mediation and its use.

“The internship was an interesting and educational experience. I was able to work independently, as well as being supported within a team, to conduct a research project and produce a final report. I enhanced many skills during this opportunity as I was given a lot of responsibility in contacting participants, organising data collection and generating background research. I would recommend this opportunity to anyone who has good time management skills, enjoys networking and has a passion for research.”

Lisa Martin, Student Intern

Other information

As part of the third year modules International Law and European Law, you will have the opportunity to visit a number of international courts and institutions of the EU such as the European Court of Justice, the European Parliament, the International Criminal Court or the International Court of Justice in Strasbourg, The Hague and Brussels.

As part of the module Intellectual Property Law, you have the opportunity to visit the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

In addition to all our LLB degrees being Qualifying Law Degrees, we have designed our degrees in consultation with solicitors and senior managers from a range of local organisations. This ensures we help you to develop the skills which are highly valued by employers, with examples including; written and verbal communication, initiative, time management, flexibility and teamwork.

Many graduates use these skills to become a barrister or solicitor, but others establish careers in education, public services, HRM, management, as paralegals, chartered secretaries or in financial services. This qualification can also be used to progress on to postgraduate study in law, such as an LLM, or in related areas such as management, marketing and accountancy.

"My favourite part of the law degree is the range of modules on offer and the effort that the tutors put into assisting students with their learning. We are taught that there is no ‘textbook answer’ to legal problems and are instead encouraged to think independently. This approach has helped me greatly when undertaking work experience with solicitors and barristers during vacations. The University also offers a range of extra-curricular activities and I have recently been elected president of the student law society, something that I am very excited about. I have also founded a new Mooting Society for law students. After graduation, I hope to study for a Masters degree and then enter the legal profession, either as a solicitor or a barrister."

There might be additional travel costs for taking part in competitions (mooting, negotiation, mediation etc). The Law School and the Student Law Society aim to support these activities as much as possible.

Professional Body Registration

Optional student membership to join the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), costs a one-off fee of £250 which will cover your membership during your LLB plus one further year.

Social Events

The (voluntary) annual law dinner typically requires a contribution of around £35

Typically modules will comprise 3 hours of contact per module per week and the form of this will vary from module to module.

In addition to this, you will also have a Personal Academic Tutor with whom you will meet on a regular basis particularly in year one and two and whose role is to guide and support you successfully through your studies. After your assessments are returned you will have the opportunity to meet with the module leader of your subjects to discuss on a 1:1 basis how you did in your assessment, why you achieved the mark you did and how you can learn from this assessment for future work. This is in addition to your written feedback.

Studying for a degree is very different from the experiences you may have had so far. We place much greater emphasis on you undertaking research, reading and reflection in your own time. It is therefore very important to appreciate that 'non class' hours are not 'free time' as this is time designed to give you the opportunity to undertake these critical activities which will be rewarded in your marks.

Academic input

We are very proud of the excellent staff we have within our Law team which has a considerable breadth and depth of experience and expertise. This includes a number of research active colleagues who are publishing and acting as advisors to national and international bodies and companies. We also have staff who are professionally qualified as solicitors or barristers and who take an active part in professional activities. Both these activities are reflected in our curriculum ensuring your experience is current and relevant.

All our staff members are committed to your learning and teaching experience and are, or are currently working towards, professional recognition in this area through the Higher Education Academy. Our promise to you is to provide you with a legal education which reflects the needs of an ever­changing landscape, prepares you to join the world of work and be able to make a valuable contribution from day one.

Assessment methods are designed to help you develop the skills required by employers and for professional body purposes. These include self, peer and tutor assessment, written exercises including 'take­home' activities which are designed to replicate practice, coursework, moots (mock trials), learning portfolios, in­class activities and examinations.

All our LLB degrees are Qualifying Law Degrees (QLD) which means they meet the Academic Stage requirements of both the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Council. Our graduates can then continue their studies by taking either of the professional courses ­ the Legal Practice Course (LPC) to qualify as a solicitor or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) to qualify as a barrister.

In addition to the above, LLB students can obtain the additional professional body qualification Grad.NALP, which will qualify you as a Member of the National Association of Paralegals (NALP). This will give you a head start in undertaking your LPC or BPTC or in applying for jobs.

If you choose to join the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), there is an additional one­off fee for registration as a student member of £250 which will cover your membership during your LLB plus one further year.

Our Mediation Clinic provides commercial, family and workplace mediation to external parties. Through our expertise in this area, we have created opportunities for our students to experience at first hand real life disputes and acquire valuable professional skills associated with a recognised method of alternative dispute resolution. Spaces are limited, though if you are particularly interested in this line of work, you are encouraged to apply for paid internships.

Students can benefit from our Mediation Clinic internships by assisting with the day­to­day operations of the clinic. They handle telephone and email enquiries from external parties, prepare documents and can assist with mediations where the parties have agreed to this. These funded work placements enable students to put into practice theoretical aspects of the law curriculum and enable a deeper understanding of the mediation process and how the service the clinic provides.

Upon hearing that he had been given the role of Mediation Clinic Intern, one of our final year LLB students said:

“I’m looking forward to the internship and becoming an integral part of the Mediation Clinic team. It will be great to gain a deeper insight into a process I have learned in theory and practiced in role-plays. Dealing with real clients will enhance my communication and customer service skills. The role will further increase my confidence for any future employment.”

Our LLBs have been designed with local solicitors and other organisations in mind to ensure we develop the skills employers tell us they require of graduates and to enable us to develop 'work ready' graduates.

We have extensive links with the local legal services sector which means that our teaching is informed by practice. Our modules are regularly updated to ensure that we reflect 'real life' priorities and trends so as to include socio­legal aspects within the curriculum.

“I believe that what sets law at Canterbury Christ Church University apart from the rest is its ability to provide practical opportunities that expand theoretical understanding. This combined with the small, supportive class size and dedicated and passionate lecturing team provides the perfect platform to achieve a student's potential. Christ Church is also ahead of the crowd with its novel Mediation Clinic incorporated into a university setting. Having achieved a First Class degree, I will now be completing the practical stage of training towards becoming a Solicitor."